|
By
EWAN KENNEDY
17 March 2008
Holden has announced it’s now fitting six airbags to all
Commodore sedan models. Previously the side-curtain airbags were
an optional extra, now they are included in the price of the car.
Of course, airbags are only there to protect you during a
crash, and it’s much better to not have the crash in the first
place. For that reason, all variants of the VE Commodore have had
ESP (Electronic Stability Program) installed since the car’s
release in August 2006. That, combined with excellent, predictable
handling has made the latest Commodore a very safe car.
And a popular one, the VE has continued to follow several of
its predecessors by being the number one selling car in Australia.
Also now being installed as standard in the VE Commodore Omega
the lowest-cost model, is air conditioning. It has amused us for
years that Holden has had the cheek to charge extra for air
conditioning on a Commodore when every other car on the market has
had it as standard for a long time.
Not that many actually paid more for the air conditioning, it
was generally thrown in free or for a nominal cost during the
pre-purchase haggling process. Either that or air was included as
part of a special edition package, such as in the Lumina packages.
Nevertheless air conditioning was technically an extra cost
option, but is now included in the recommended retail price.
Holden is well aware that Ford's new FG Falcon is to about be
launched so is trying to upstage that all-new car range to the
best of its ability.
Also set for introduction, though still several months away, is
the station wagon version of the VE Commodore. Tagged the
Sportswagon, it has plenty of style and still manages to retain a
reasonable luggage area. Though it has to be said that the latter
isn’t as cavernous as in other Commodore wagons of recent years.
It too, will have air conditioning and six airbags as standard
equipment in all versions.
© Copyright
Marque Publishing Company
|
